Station indicator



Dec, 20, 1927.

. 1,653,455 0. FRIEDMAN STATION INDICATOR Filed Auz. 28. 1926 2 Shets-S'neet 2 Nexc Stops INVENTOR Patented Dec. 20, 1927.

UNITED STATES DAVID FRIEDMAN, or ROCHESTER, new YORK.

STATION INDICATOR.

Application filed August 28, 1926. Serial No. 182,261.

Thisinvention relates to certain new and useful improvements in station indicators. My general object is to produce one that will accomplish the desired results and at the same time simple to operate and inexpensive to construct.

Other objects arethe indicator herein described is easily adjusted, changed to use from one route to another and easily transferred from one place to another. It requires no reversal operationalways works in one direction for the back and forth trips of the conveyance.

The purpose of such indicator is very obviousfor the benefit of the traveling public.

With these and otherobjects in View, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of 'parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the supporting frame of my improved endless member;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is a. view in end elevation of Figure 1;

Figure at is a viewin elevation of my improved solenoid which constitutes the prime mover of the apparatus;

Figure 5 is a view in end elevation of Figure 4:; V

Figures 6 and 7 are views in elevationat rightangles to each other, showing my improved sustaining ratchet hook;

Figures 8 and 9 are views in elevation at rightangles to each other of my improved take-up ratchet hooks;

Figure 10 is a view in front elevation of my improved reciprocating carriage;

Figure 11 is a view in end elevation of the carriage shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a View in front elevation of my improved endless member;

Figure 13 is a view in front elevation showing a box or casing in which my improved mechanism is supported;

Figure 14 is a view in longitudinal section of the entire mechanism assembled;

Figure 15 is a view in transverse sect-ion on the line 1515 of Figure let.

1, 1 represent a pairof parallel uprights, spaced apart and supporting a roller 2 adlower beveled face jacent their upper ends and connected by plates 3 and 51 intermediate their ends. On the inner faces of the bars or uprights 1 at their lower portions channel rails 7, 7 are fixed and are adapted to receive projections 8, Son the sides of a reciprocating carriage 9. 13 represents a solenoid which is fixed to a supporting plate 12, the latter provided with openings 17 for the reception of securing means to secure the same to the bars 1, 1. The point of attachmentof these securing means is indicated by the reference characters 5, 5 on Figure 1, and the fixed relation of these parts is indicated clearly in Figure 16.

This solenoid 13 has a movable core 14 which is connected by a link 15 with a' pin 16. Said pin 16 may constitute a roller,

but in any event it is at an angle to the link 15 and is projected through an opening 10 in the carriage 9 and connected thereto in such a manner as to cause the carriage to be reciprocated when the solenoid is ener-' gized or deenergized, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

To the back of the plate 4 Isecure a pair of ratchet retaining hooks 18, these hooks being secured to the plateatthe point indicated by the reference numeral 6 in Figure 1 and at the lower ends of the hooks so as to permit the hooks a free movement at their upper endsp These hooks 18 are composed of strips of spring metal, the upper ends of which are bent at an acute angle, providing 18" and an upper fiat or straight face 18 To the carriage'9 I secure a pair of take: up hooks 20, these-hooks being secured at their lowerends to the carriage at the points indicated by the reference numeral 11 in Figure 10. The hooks 20 are likewise com: posed of spring metal having beveled lower faces 20* at their upper portions and straight or flat upper extremities 20. Y Y

23 represents an endless member which is composed of a plurality of slats 22 sup ported at their ends by flexible straps or belts or other analogous devices 22. This endless member 28 is supported on the rollers 2 and is positioned around both plates 3 and 4, as clearly indicated in Figure 1 1. The retaining hooks 18 as well as the take-up hooks 20 engage between the slats 22, these hooks being oppositely positioned and engaging adjacent slats, as clearly indicated in Figure 14.

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It is of course to be undestood that the solenoid 13 is included in an electric circuit with a source of electricity 14: and a switch 15, which is manually operated or may be automatically operated.

The operation is as follows:

When the magnet is energized it will move the carriage 9 upwardly, and this movement of the carriage will project the hooks 2O upwardly, andas the latter engage a slat of the endless member they will force the endless member a distance of one slat. During this movement, the retaining hooks 18 will ride out of position between-the slats and also the take-up hooks will ride out of position between the slats, and when a slat is passed by the hooks, or rather a slat passesvthe hooks, both will spring back into normal position, as indicated in Figure 14. Of course, it is to be understood hat the hooks 20 cannot move between the slats until the magnet is de-energized and the carriage 9 falls or moves downwardly by gravity to its lowermost position.

25 represents a box or casing having an opening 26 therein through which one or more of the slats 22 is exposed. As this de vice is primarily adapted as a station in dic ator the slats will contain numerals or other indicia indicating the stations or streets, and when two are exposed they will indicate the next two stops. As theindicia is on an endless member it is not necessary to reverse the device, but these slats may be so arranged that when a car or train reaches the end of the route and retraces the route the stations will be in proper sequence, as clearly indicated in Figure 12 of the draw ings. i

It is of course to be understood that I do not limit myself to a device which indicates streets or stations but desire to cover the apparatus or device for any use to which it can be put as it is apparent it might be used for other purposes, such as advertising announcements or for any other pur- )OSG.

1 lVhile I have illustrated what I believe to be a preferred embodiment of my invention it is obvious that various changes and alterations might be made in the general form of the parts described without departing supporting and permitting movement of said member, a pair of ratchet hooks, one hook constituting a retaining hook and the other a take-up hook, both hooks adapted to ride into and out of engagement with the endless member, and means for imparting movement to the take-up hook, said endless member. comprising a plurality of slats spaced apart and connected together and said hooks engaging between the slats.

2. A device of the character described, including an endless member, means for supporting and permitting movement of said member, a pair of ratchet hooks, one hook constituting a retaining hook and the other a take-up hook, both hooks adapted to ride into and out of engagement with the endless member, and means for imparting movement to the take-up hook, said hooks each composed of spring strips having their ends bent forming lower beveled surfaces and flat upper engaging surfaces.

3. A device of the character described, in-

cluding a support, a roller on the support, a carriage guided on the support, an endless member mounted on the roller and com- 7 prising a plurality of connected slats spaced apart, a solenoid on the support, means operatively connecting the solenoid with the carriage, ratchet retaining hooks on the 'sup-,

DAVID FRIEDMAN. 

